Pickpocketing in Paris
 

Is it worse in Paris than other European cities, like Rome? Never had a problem travelling elsewhere but on this board and others, everyone is always warning of it in Paris. I am normally vigilant anyway but should we be extra vigilant in Paris?? Want to enjoy the vacation without being paranoid.

Paris is bad, but I was told by a fellow at the consulate, that Barcelone is twice as bad. Please see my post, this date.<BR><BR>Catherine S.

In Paris I think you must safeguard your valuables, like credit cards, driver's license, tickets, and passport. <BR>I usually don't put much paper money at risk, either, by carrying it in my billfold in an exposed pocket. <BR><BR>Until an episode that proved the contary, I had, for the greater part, figured I was alert and vigilant. Not so. I was a sitting duck waiting to be victimized. <BR><BR>I was "scorned" by a pickpocket on the Metro, but I was set up, and he could have had my billfold had he wanted it.<BR>He did not take it, but only because it was probably not worth the effort.<BR><BR>You have to realize that it is a case of the amatuer on strange ground versus a professional on his home territory where he or she knows every train movement and can spot a "pigeon" 50 yards away.<BR><BR>The way I was set up was artful. As I boarded a Metro car, a young man pretended to be reading the route map over the door. As I boarded, me bumped into me, squeezed by me, and exited the car just as the door was closing. I was not aware of what was happening until another passenger, probably an American, asked me if everything was still in my pockets. <BR><BR>Also, you will find that people asking for money are all over. It is not unusual to have a person walk up to you in a train station and ask for money, or have some other scam or ploy going.<BR>There is something about the way I look, even though I dress conservatively, that shouts "American". There is no hesitancy on the part of these people to walk up and ask in English for money.<BR>"Do you have 10 francs?" was the line in Paris last year. I don't know what the denomination is now with the advent of the euro. <BR>So protect the valuable possessions by keeping them under your clothes. Losing $50 or so is trivial, really, compared to having your passport heisted.<BR><BR>

I was just in Barcelona, and Milan.. you HAVE to either have a "fanny pack" for your money OR have it under your clothes.. I always would have a 5 EURO in my pants poket IF I needed to purchase a ticket or something, SO I NEVER had to get money out of anything.. also MAKE a copy of your passport and leave it back at your hotel with bags, in case you have your stolen. BE AWARE of two people approaching from different sides, it happens in open areas. , I am not paranoid I am just careful!!! People at our hotle were pick pocketed at an internet cafe because she put her purse on the floor beside the computer.. WHY would you ever carry a purse when TRAVELING???

We went to Rome last year and had no problem although we read that there is alot of pickpocketing and purse snatching. No one bothered us although we were in the most populated tourist spots.<BR>However, yes, I had an almost unfortunate experience in the Paris metro (I believe some metro lines are more notorious than others). There was a young couple who we noticed getting off one car and boarding the other but thought nothing of it at first. They followed us into our car; the guy stood very close behind me and since the car was a bit crowded I thought nothing of it. The girl tried to distract me by asking for the time(she even took my hand to look at my watch-maybe would have taken it off it weren't so difficult to do so). In the meantime we arrived at our stop (Cite) and that was good timing. As it turned out after I left the car I noticed my bag was unzipped;however, I got out in time otherwise the guy would have gotten my wallet and everything else inside my purse. Please be very careful especially in the metro.

I have to say, I haven't had a problem in Europe with pickpockets. Maybe its because I live in NYC, so I don't fell lost in a city. It seems ot me to be common sense--would you giv emoney to someone asking for it in the US? I hope not. I felt no threat of being robbed in Paris at all, and I ofund all the warnings about Barcelona ot be ridiculous. Once I thought somone there was following me to rob me, but it turned out it was a little old lady with tons of groceries trying to get around me in a narrow street. <BR>Just be aware of you body and surroundings and don't use a backpack and I think you'll be fine. Maybe if you're really worried you could try the first day with a money belt and see how comfortable you feel. That's what I'll be doing in Rom this May.

My daughter and I were approached by teenage pickpockets on a long escalator in the St. Michel metro station in Paris. One came up next to us and asked me the time. I told him the time, then he asked to shake my hand. I said "Aurevoir" and held my purse tightly. There was another kid right behind me. When I finally convinced the first kid I wasn't going to shake his hand and told him loudly to get lost, they all passed and went up the escalator. I felt the kid behind me giving the outside of my purse the once over with his hand as he passed me. He couldn't get into it, though, and nothing was missing.<BR><BR>My favorite sign was at Versailles: "There are pickpockets in the palace."